World's Highest-Powered Electric Locomotive Developed

The world's most powerful electric locomotive, the Shen-24, rolled off the production line on July 29 at CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd. in Zhuzhou of Central China's Hunan province, a subsidiary of CRRC Corporation Limited (CRRC).

With a unit power of 28,800 kW, the locomotive generates forward propulsion of 2,280 kN, the highest of its kind in the world.

It was a breakthrough in China's heavy haul railway and a milestone of the country's self-innovation in equipment manufacturing.

Jointly developed by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd. and China Energy Investment Corporation (China Energy), the locomotive can operate as fast as 120 kilometers per hour and can pull a 10,000-ton train on a 1.2 percent slope.

The 106-meter locomotive has six carriages with driver's cabins on both sides. The figurehead is a lion that shows the power of the locomotive.

Unlike previous locomotives, the Shen-24 is equipped with self-adaptive configuration network side circuits and network dynamic braiding control technologies, which provide flexible braiding.

In addition to its strong power, the locomotive is smarter, safer and more environmentally-friendly than previous ones.

Installed with smart driving technology, the locomotive can start, adjust speed and stop by itself, which avoids errors in manual operation and relieves driver fatigue. The smart operation and maintenance platform is capable of recognizing faults of key parts on the locomotive and monitoring operation.

To ensure security the locomotive is installed with an innovative traction converter that provides a reliable and maintainable grip on the rails.

The braking system based on modularization, distribution network and intelligentization underpins the safety of the locomotive during operation. Accurate control of the locomotive is also ensured thanks to the differential positioning of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System.

A water-based paint is used in locomotive painting which reduces emission of volatile organic compounds by 40 percent and at the same time improves the quality of the recycled high-power braking energy, which means the power produced by braking can be reused.

Based on the conviction that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, the locomotive promotes China's hard fight against all kinds of pollution.

Once operable, it will be deployed on China Energy's Shenmu-Shuozhou Railway, where it will improve China's energy transport efficiency.

CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd. is now devoted to transformation from high-speed heavy hauling to green and smart railway operations that rely on experience accumulated over 60 years and the railway transportation equipment industrial cluster in Hunan.

It will continue to contribute to construction of smart, safe, efficient and green modern transportation arteries and to building China's strength in transportation and manufacturing.

The Shen-24, the world's most powerful electric locomotive, rolls off the production line on July 29 at CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd. in Zhuzhou of Central China's Hunan province. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

With a unit power of 28,800 kW, the Shen-24 generates forward propulsion of 2,280 kN, the highest of its kind in the world. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

A view in the driver's cabin [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)